The Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche are about to get a fast look at where they stand against one of the Central Division's biggest rivals. The teams will meet Tuesday in Dallas and then again Wednesday in Denver, giving both clubs back-to-back chances to test themselves in a short window.
For Dallas, the timing may be especially useful. Glen Gulutzan said he thinks the schedule is right for his 2-2-1 team after a flat performance in Pittsburgh, where the Stars lost 2-1 in a shootout to the Pittsburgh Penguins. His view was simple: the matchup can help push his team toward better hockey.
“I honestly think where our team is at, it’s perfect,” Gulutzan said. “We haven’t played our best hockey, but nothing brings out the best in you like a great opponent, and we’re going to face them twice.”
That matters because Dallas has not been at its sharpest, but the Stars also have recent proof that they can handle this matchup. Last season, Dallas went 2-1-1 against the Avalanche. The Stars also finished third in the NHL and second in the Central Division last season, so this is the kind of opponent that can help clarify the early-season picture.
Recent history points to a competitive matchup
The player history in this series adds another layer. Nathan MacKinnon’s point streak against Dallas began on Jan. 4, 2024, and he has been productive enough in the matchup to stand out again here. On the Dallas side, Seguin has had his own run of success against Colorado, with his recent stretch of points against the Avalanche dating back to March 4, 2023.
Those individual numbers help show why this series tends to draw attention beyond the standings. The Stars and Avalanche are not just division rivals; they have also built a recent playoff history that has kept the matchups meaningful. Colorado eliminated Dallas the year before Dallas was later pushed into a first-round matchup with the Minnesota Wild, adding more context to every new meeting between these teams.
Gulutzan also pointed to that larger competitive backdrop when he said he thinks the game comes at a good time for both sides. “I think this comes at a great time to get us into our best game,” he said. “I’m sure (Colorado) didn’t like their last game and we haven’t liked many of our games, so the game comes at maybe a great time for both of us.”
So while this is only a two-game set, it arrives with real weight. Dallas gets the first chance to set the tone at home on Tuesday, then both teams get an immediate rematch in Denver on Wednesday. In a division race that can tighten quickly, that kind of back-to-back measuring stick can say a lot about where each club is headed next.
